House number



March 31, 1931 H. A. MERCER 1,7 0

HOUSE NUMBER Filed Aug. 12, 1929 ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 31, 1931 UNITED STATES HERMAN A. MERCER, OF ARKANSAS CITY, KANSAS HOUSE ivnivfniin Application filed August 12, 1929. and no. 385356.

The present invention contemplates the provision of an illuminating house numbering device, by means of which the number of the house is readily discernable after dark, the invention residing in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as claimed.

In the drawing forming part of this application like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views and where- Figure l is a View showing the manner in which the device is mounted.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view showing how the device is arranged over the usual porch light.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view on line H of Figure 1.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a detail of the frame.

The device forming the subject matter of the present invention comprises a casing of novel construction, adapted to be arranged over the usual porch light, and bearing the house number on the front side thereof, so that the number can be illuminated and recognized at an appreciable distance from the house after dark.

The casing includes a pair of spaced brackets, each including a top member 10 and a rear member including a straight portion 11, a downwardly and forwardly inclined portion 12, and a front member 13, the corresponding members 13 of the respectlve brackets being connected by a cross bar 14 located centrally of the brackets. The top members 10 of these brackets support a panel 4 15 which may be of any suitable material, preferably opal glass, while the front wall of the casing includes a similar panel 16 whlch reposes upon the transverse bar 14 as 1llustrated. The front wall also includes a anel which occupies a space between the ower edge of the transverse bar, and the lower ends of the brackets, but which latter mentioned panel is preferably made up of sections 17 each including a numeral forming part of the house number. The sections 17 are preferably opaque, although the numeral I on each section is clear, so that the complete 7 house number can be properly illuminated at night time, and thereby recognized at an appreciable distance from the house. The panels constituting the front wall of the caslng are held in-position by a metallic frame '18 arranged about the'mar'ginal edges of these panels, and riveted or otherwise suitably secured to the adjacent ofl-s'e't extremities of the top members 10 of the brackets. The frame also includes a transverse member 19 which is adapted to be bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the transverse bar 14 ofthe brackets. It will be noted upon inspection of Figure 2 that the frame 18 is extended at the upper edge thereof to provide a flange 19 which reposes upon the top panel 15 to hold the latter in position. The frame 18 also. has secured thereto adjacent the top and bottom thereof, strips of metal, which are off-set to provide flanges 20 which engage the adjacent edges of the panels constituting the front wall, whereby these panels are supported between said flanges and the transverse bar 14 above referred to. Also supported upon the bar 14,- are latch plates 21 which engage the adjacent panels of the front wall to hold the latter in position, but when released permit these panels to be conveniently and quickly removed as the occasion may require.

It will also be noted upon inspection of Figure 4 that the retaining frame 18 has its side edges bent rearwardly to provide flanges 22 which engage the side panels 23 of the casing, and these flanges cooperate with latch elements 24 for holding the latter mentioned panels in position.

It is manifest from the construction illustrated and described, that the casing in its entirety is open at its bottom and rear, so that the. entire casing can be conveniently arranged over the usual porch light 25 as illustrated in Figure 2, the casing being mounted and secured upon the front of the house by suitable fastening elements 26 passed through the straight portions 11 of the rear members of the brackets. Consequently the house number can be properly illuminated at night time for the purpose stated.

While it is believed that from the foregoing description, the nature and advantages 5 of the invention will be readily apparent, I desire to have it understood, that I do not limit myself to what is herein shown and described and that such changes may be resorted to when desired as fall within the scope of what is claimed.

What is claimed is:

In a house numbering device, the combination with a porch light, of a casing including spaced brackets, a top, sides and front walls of opaque glass, a retaining frame engaging the marginal edges of all of said walls, said front wall including upper and lower panels, a transverse bar connecting said brackets and constituting a support for 2 the adjacent ends of said panels, flanges carried by said retaining frame and engaging over the adjacent edges of said panels, latch elements mounted on said brackets and cooperating with said flanges in removably supporting the said walls of the bracket, the lower panel of the front wall bearing the house number, and said casing being open at its rear and bottom to receive the porch light.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.

HERMAN A. MERCER. 

